2nd-Year Colts Players (Ranked By Sports Illustrated Reporter)

[Colts And Orioles]

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Ranking 2nd-Year Colts Players by 2026 Importance

(By Noah Compton)

https://www.si.com/nfl/colts/onsi/ra...026-importance




The Indianapolis Colts' 2025 draft class featured numerous year-one contributors, with more that were slated to play major roles had they not sustained season-ending injuries.

The Colts will be banking on the class in question as they enter a make-or-break season, one that sets the bar at making the playoffs. They currently have 11 2025 draftees ...... 8 draft selections and 3 undrafted free agent signings ...... that have stuck around going into year two.

We will be ranking all 11 2nd-year players from most to least important to Indianapolis' 2026 success, starting with a no-brainer of a No. 1 choice.




Tyler Warren


The 2nd-year tight end has already become a focal point of the Colts' offense after totaling 76 receptions for 817 receiving yards and 4 receiving TD's as a rookie in 2025.

His immediate contributions in both the pass and run games led to the Colts moving on from longtime wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. earlier this off-season, as the team will look to replace him with Warren.

Though a tight end and not a wide receiver, Warren's veteran tendencies and playstyle are worth betting on, as he, plus wide receivers Alec Pierce and Josh Downs, will make for a promising pass-catching trio.


Justin Walley


Walley was expected to play a major role in defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo's defensive backfield as a rookie, earning 1st-team reps throughout training camp that suggested that he'd be starting alongside Charvarius Ward Sr. before too long.

But after a pre-season ACL tear ended his rookie campaign before it could begin, the Colts were forced to pivot and ultimately went the blockbuster route of trading for star cornerback Sauce Gardner at the trade deadline later that regular season.

Walley is back in the mix for OTA's, and has been fully cleared for almost a month now. He is set to fill the massive void that longtime leader Kenny Moore II left in the slot, but the Colts' coaching staff is confident that he'll be able to continue what he started as a young pup in summer camp.


Jaylen Travis


Travis ended up starting in 4 games of relief for Braden Smith at right tackle last season, and now has the inside track to winning the opening that Smith left behind in free-agency.

Expected to compete with fourth-round rookie guard Jalen Farmer for said starting job, Travis sports a more natural tackle build at 6'8", 339 lbs, and has more experience at tackle than Farmer does.


Jaylahn Tuimoloau


The Colts are desperate for some added juice in the pass-rush room, particularly at defensive end, and as of now, they're more or less banking on Tuimoloau to emerge in his 2nd season.

Tuimoloau is poised to take advantage of the opportunity to start as a sophomore NFL player opposite Laiatu Latu, but he'll still have to earn the starting spot in question, while also proving to Colts decision-makers that adding veteran talent to shore up the room is not necessary.


Riley Leonard


He may be a back-up quarterback at the end of the day, whether that's at QB-2 or QB-3, but Riley Leonard must be prepared for regular-season action as Daniel Jones cannot be banked on to stay healthy for an entire 17-game season.

Leonard played in five games as a rookie and started in the Colts' season finale, going 39-for-67 (58.2%) through the air for 415 passing yards, 2 Passing TD's, and 3 INT's while also adding 2 Rushing TD's and 2 Fumbles on the ground.

Although it was not an all-time performance in a brief sample size, Leonard has the inside track to being Daniel Jones's immediate backup over Anthony Richardson entering the summer.


Hunter Wohler


Like Justin Walley, Hunter Wohler was set to take on a major role as a rookie before a Lisfranc injury ended his season before it could begin.

Colts coaches and executives have expressed their fondness for their 2nd-year defensive back pair throughout the entire rehab process, and are now welcoming them both back into the fold with open arms.

Although the Colts' 2026 3rd-round pick, LSU's A.J. Haulcy, is expected to earn the opening starting spot at strong safety that Nick Cross left behind in free-agency, Wohler is still expected to take on a role similar to what he was slated for as a rookie. He will more than likely be a major special teams contributor as well as a regular rotational piece in the defensive backfield, particularly as a sub-package defender in three-safety sets.


DJ Giddens


Giddens didn't produce much as a rookie, totaling 96 rushing yards on 26 carries (3.7 YPC) in 9 games played. This resulted in Jonathan Taylor being treated as the true bell-cow back that he is, but the 17-game season proved to be too much for Taylor at times, particularly in obvious passing situations.

The 2nd-year back flashed at times in training camp last year, but he'll need to showcase a newfound third-down ability if he wants to net some real playing time in year two. Giddens no longer has the backup role all to himself, as Seth McGowan's addition will make for a lively position battle throughout the summer.


Jonathan Edwards


Edwards was one of three original UDFA's to stick around throughout the offseason. He's also the only one of the bunch to get some real run last season as a UDFA rookie. The Colts have been high on him since he arrived, and that resulted in Edwards making the team's initial 53-man active roster.

Edwards remained on the active roster throughout the entire regular season, appearing in 14 games and starting 5 as a rookie. The Colts entered OTA's last week with a much deeper and healthier room than their 2025 53-man roster was, but it's hard to see a reality where Edwards doesn't remain in the cornerback rotation moving forward.


Tim Smith


Smith served as the Colts' lone draft-and-stash player from the 2025 draft class. He was on the practice squad for the entire 2025-26 regular season and is now looking to make the Colts' defensive tackle rotation in year two.

It'll be an uphill battle to climb, but the 32-year-old starting defensive tackle duo of DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart suggests that depth at the position will be a premium in 2026, especially considering the former is returning from a serious neck injury.


Ulysses Bentley IV


Bentley IV regularly flashed during training camp last year and became the Colts' de-facto RB-1 on the practice squad for the 2025 season. He will likely remain as RB-4 on the depth chart after DJ Giddens and Colts' 2026 7th-round pick Seth McGowan.


Coleman Owen


Owen was a practice-squad mainstay as a rookie in 2025, but he also appeared in 2 games solely for some live run as a returner. He only had 1 punt return that went just 2 yards, but he did take back his 5 kick-return attempts for 141 yards (28.2-yard average.) It'll be interesting to see if Owen reclaims the role of practice-squad receiver who could fill in for return duties on game day.

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